Plane trees (pruned à la Française) and terracotta rooftops evoke Provence, while warm hospitality, delicious chenin blanc, and a decidedly South African-flecked menu remind us that we’re in the heart of the Stellenbosch Winelands – nowhere else we’d rather be! Seated around a gurgling fountain in the gravelled courtyard of this scenic estate in the Blaauwklippen Valley, we could’ve been anywhere in the world. Opening times Wednesday – Sunday, 8am – 3.30pmĬontact 0, to find it Vergenoegd Löw The Wine Estate, 1 Vergenoegd Road, Faure, Off R310, Stellenboschīook through DinePlan Salt at Waterford Estate Good to know Geuwels is also open for breakfast and does afternoon picnics on the werf. Think tamatie bredie Saldanha mussels, curried-beef jaffles, springbok-bobotie tartare, maize pap chips – and for breakfast, jaffle Croque Madame with Huguenot cheese, or smoked pork belly with roosterkoek and egg. The Afrikaans word for “gables”, Geuwels is situated in the beautifully restored Dairy Barn, whose historic charm and exquisite interior design are the perfect backdrop for chef and co-owner Drikus Brink’s South African small plates that can be enjoyed in one of the multiple indoor or outdoor dining spaces. Unstoppable chef Bertus Basson has done it again: he’s opened another restaurant – his sixth – this time at Vergenoegd Löw, one of South Africa’s oldest working farms. Open ing times Tuesday – Sunday, 6pm – 11.30pmĬontact 0, to find it 5 Phyllis Road, Claremont, Cape Town As for pastry chef Christopher Morresson’s desserts… “super lekker” as Matt would say. Led by chef Chris De Jongh, who worked with Matt in Blouberg, the trusty kitchen team has created an ever-changing set menu of artfully exciting and utterly delectable dishes, such as beef tataki prawn dumplings and crispy gammon with Pecorino, orange and sweet potato. So we were thrilled to stumble upon his brand-new baby – in the southern suburbs this time – at The Andros Boutique Hotel in Claremont. When Matt Schreuder opened the original Homespun in Blouberg, back in 2015, he knocked it out of the park with his creative SA-flecked international dishes inspired by his travels. Let us know which are your favourites in the comments below.
We’ve selected the 30 most noteworthy openings in the Mother City and wonderful Winelands. The world of masks, sanitisers and social-distancing is, sadly, still with us, but the good news is that the Cape Town restaurant scene is bulging with new and exciting openings. Mexican, Lebanese, Greek and South African – there’s a clutch of new cuisines to try out!